Bowling pin



, E. W. HARTLEY BOWLING PIN Filed oct.` 6, 1938l April 30 194o. y

zisheets-shee` x April 3o, 1940. L E. w. HARTLE'Y.-

BowLINePIN 'Filed oct. e, 1938 2 Sheets-Shes?l 2 Patented Apr. 30, 1940PATENT OFFICE Earle W. Hartley, Waterbury, Conn.`

Application October 6,

19 Claims.

This invention relates to bowling pins and is an improvement over thebowling pin embodied in the co-pending application of myself and FrankO. German, Serial Number 164,044, filed Septem- I ber 15, 1937.

An object of this invention is to lprovide a hollow bowling pin which isformed of composition material such as a` thermoplastic composition orproduct such as cellulose acetate.

l. Another object of this invention is to provide a bowling pin formedof composition material which has embedded therein a reinforcing mem'-ber so as to reinforce the pin at substantially the point of contact ofthe pin with a ball.

Another object of this invention isto provide a composition bowling pinwhich is of hollow construction, being formed of material which will notfracture under the impact of a ball there-` with. go A further object ofthis invention is to provide in a composition bowling pin la metallicsocket member in the bottom thereof which is adapted to be engaged bythe well known pin spotting devices so that the bottom of the pin willnot be injured during the setting up operation in order that thepin-will at all times be correctly positioned on the surface of thealley irrespective of the age of the pin.

A still further object of this invention is to lo provide in acomposition bowling pin a combined metal socket and pin balancing memberwhich is adapted to provide not only the proper weight to the pin butalso to balance the pin, particularly at the base thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a composition pin whichmay be molded in complementary one-half sections so that the pin may beassembled and the one-half sections adhesively secured together by anadhesive con- 40 taining a phenol product in order that the meetingedges of the sections will amalgamate and provide an unbreakable hollowbody.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists u of the novel construction, combination'andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and `asillustrated-in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown embodimentsof the.

invention, but it is tovb'e understood that'changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope o f theinvention as claimed. v

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a bowling 193s,sei-lei No. 233,634

(o1. 21a-sz) pin constructed according to an embodiment of thisinvention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the center of the pin,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the g line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the lower one-halfportion of the pin,

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the metal socket and balancingmember,

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation partly broken away and in section ofa modified form of this P111.'

Figure 'l is a sectional View taken on the line 1-1 of-Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a reinforced thermoplasticsheet of material which may be used to produce bowling pins or likearticles.

Referring to the drawings, and ilrstto Flg ures l to 5 inclusive, thecharacter P designates generally a bowling pin which is formed ofcomplementary one-half sections I0 and II. These sections III and II areidentical in construction and are adapted to be adhesively securedtogether at-their abutting edges as at I3 by an adhesive having acomposition such as to substantially amalgamate the two sections I0 andI I and form a substantially integral hollow body. The body sections I0and II are each providedfwith a neck portion I2 and an enlargedor'bulged body portion I4 terminating in a base I5. The base I5 isrelatively thicker than the body portion I4 and the neck portion I2, andeach pin section I0 and II is provided in the base portion thereof witha half round bore I6 which is concentric to the axial center of the pin.A rib I'I is formed in the socket receiving portion I6 of each sectionIll and II and when thetwo sections I0 and II are secured together, around bore is formed having a key I1 intermediate the inner and outerends of the bore formed by the semi-cylinf drical portions I6.

In the molding or casting of the sections I0 and II an outer reinforcingmember I% is embedded in the material while the material is plastic andthis reinforcing material I8 is positioned at ai" point termed the bellyof the pin and extends'-l above and below the greatest diameter vofthebody Il. An inner reinforcing fabric I! is positioned inwardly of theouter reinforcing member I8 andv is substantially of the same width asthe outer member I8. These reinforcing'memt bers I8 and lI9 arepreferably constructed of fabric which is of such a nature that thecomposiu ,Din

tion material forming the pin will impregnate the fabric so that thefabric members i3 and I9 will prevent chipping of the material formingthe The composition material forming this pin has v been found toinitially fracture on the inside of the pin due to the flexing of thebody under impact with a ball or with another pin and the reinforcingmembers I8 and I9, particularly the inner reinforcing member I9 willprolong the life of the pin due to the fact that the reinforcing membersI8 and I9 will hold the material together even if the material shouldbecome fractured.

A combined socket and pin balancing member 20 is adapted to be insertedin the opening formed by the semi-cylindrical portions I8 and thissocket member 20 comprises a cylindrical body 2| formed of metal whichis provided with an axially disposed socket 22. The socket 22 opensthrough the lower end of the body member 2| and the bore 22 terminatesat its lower end in a rounded or bevelled portion 23. The socket member20.

is provided at a point inwardly from its lower end with an annulargroove 24 which engages the rib portions ll of the two body members Iand Il. This groove snugly receives the rib I1 and holds the socketmember against movement axially of the pin P. The socket member 20 asshown in Figure 2 has a length substantially greater than the thicknessof the bottom wall 'I5 of the pin so that a considerable portion of thissocket member 20 will extend into the interior of the pin when it isassembled by adhesively securing the pin sections l0 and together.

In Figures 6 and '7. there is shown a modified form of this bowling pinwherein the pin is constructed of complementary sections lll*i and I I.These sections I0 and ||n are each provided with a neck portion I2 and abody portion |48'. The pin sections I0 and Il* are adhesively securedtogether as at i3 and the bottom wall portions Iiil are provided with abore I6 in which a socket member 20 similar to the socket 20 is mounted.The socket member 20 comprises a cylindrical member 2|a having a groove248 in which is positioned the rib |15.

In this modied form of bowling pin, the two pin sections I0 and Il* areeach provided at the belly or larger diameter portion thereof with areinforcing fabric` I. In this instance, only one layer of fabric isprovided but it will be understood that one or more layers of fabric maybe embedded in the body sections l0 and I I.

A disc-shaped reinforcing or bracing member 25 is positioned within theinterior of the pin being adhesively secured at its peripheral edge 26to the inner surface of the two pin sections I0 and l I. The bracingmember 25 is preferably provided at its center with an opening 21 and aplurality of holes 28 are positioned vabout the axial center of thebracing member 25 and about the central opening 21. The use of thisbracing member provides a more solid pin structure at the point ofimpact between the pin and a ball or other pin, and in this manner thepin will not tend to flex as greatly under impact as where the bracingmember 25is eliminated.

This pin may be constructed of substantially transparent material, ifdesired, although in practice the pins will be constructed ofcomposition material which in color, at least, will simulate the naturalcolor of the wooden pins.

Y Bowling pins have been constructed according to this invention andhave been placed in actual use and found to be capable of withstandingthe hard usage to which bowling pins are subjected and at the same timeto retain their original or perfect round configuration.

Wooden bowling pins are not capable of retaincondition until the pin hasbeen fractured to aA point where it is no longer usable. This bowlingpin will at all times present a new pin construction so that a higherscore will be possible with the use of a pin of this type and this pinwill also considerably reduce the operating expenses of the bowlingalley due to the fact that the pin has a very much longer lifeI than anordinary wooden pin.

Heretofore there has never been a composition bowling pin which hasactually found its way into service although many such pins have beenproposed, as evidenced by the showings in the prior art; One of thereasons these pins have not found their way into actual use is becausethey have not been formed of the right composition and construction.'Ihe applicant has determined this through numerous tests under actualplaying conditions extending over a long period of time and the presentpin has been found to be the only solution to the problem havingsuccessfully withstood long test and usage. This is due in part to thecomposition of the pin and in part to the construction as hereindisclosed, more particularly the fabric reinforcement of a woven fibrousmaterial. Tests have been made with metallic reinforcements but thesehave indicated that the brous material is the only real satisfactoryreinforcement, because only an improper bond can be established betweena metallic reinforcement and the composition of which the pin is made,whereas the fibrous material becomes thoroughly impregnated andpractically integral with the composition of which the pin is made. Thepin is made by either of the well known molding processes, such as apressure molding or the so-called injection molding. A type of materialwhich has been found satisfactory for the composition is that known inthe trade as Tenite and is embodied in Patent No. 2,048,686.

In Figure 8 there is disclosed a thermoplastic sheet formed of laminatedsheet members 29, 30 and 3|. These laminations are constructed ofthermoplastic composition and are adhesively secured together at theirconfronting faces by an adhesive containing a composition such as tosubstantially form an integral laminated sheet structure. In thesecuring of the sheet members 29 and 30 together a fibrous fabric member32 is positioned therebetween and is adapted to be impregnated with thecementitious material so that when the adhesive has dried thecomposition thereof will be impregnated in the bres of the fabric 32. Asecond fabric 33 is interposed between the lamination 30 and thelamination 3| and is adapted to be secured therebetween by the adhesiveused to secure the two laminations 30 and 3| together in order that theadhesive will impregnato the bres of the Woven fibrous fabric 30 inaddition toiirmly holding the two laminations 30 and 3| together.

It will also be understood that the woven fibrous members 32 and 3 3 maybe embedded in the sheet comprising the laminations I9, lil and 3| atthe time the several sheets are in a plastic state so that under suchconditions it will not be necessary to use an adhesive in order tosecure the several laminations together and to secure the woven fibroussheet members 30 and 3l within-the laminated product.

The bowling pin hereinbefore disclosed may be formed entirely out oflaminated material similar to that shown in Figure 8 which material maybe formed into the desired conguration by die stamping under heat, andif desired the sheet comprising the `laminations 29, 30 and 3i may alsobe used for other products which are sub Jected to impacts which wouldotherwise breakor crack either glass, wood or other similar material.

What I claim is: l

1. A bowling pin comprising a hollow body and a woven reinforcing memberembedded in a wall of said body.

2. A bowling pin comprising a hollow body, a pair of spaced reticulatedreinforcing bands embedded in a wall of said body, and a metal socketcarried by the lower portion of said body, said socket opening throughthe bottom of said body.

3. A bowling pin comprising a pair of composition body membersadhesively secured together, a fibrous woven band embedded in eachmember intermediate the ends thereof, a metallic socket member, andmeans carried by said body members and formed in said socket member forholding said socket member against movement longitudinally of said bodymembers.

4. A composition bowling pin comprising a hollow body, a reinforcingband formed of fabric material embedded in a wall of said body, and acombined socket and balancing member carried by said body.

5. A bowling -pin comprising a body having an opening in the bottomportion thereof, said body also having an annular rib intermediate theends of said opening, and a cylindrical socket member snugly engaging insaid opening, said socket member having an annular groove to snuglyreceive` said rib to thereby hold said socket member against movementlengthwise' of said body.

6. A bowlingpin comprising a hollow body formed of complementary halfround sections,

each of said sections having a senil-cylindrical socket receiving recessat one end thereof, a

woven fibrous band embedded in a wall of each section intermediate theends thereof, said recesses confronting each other and formingacylindrical opening, and a socket member snugly engaging in saidrecesses, said recesses and said socket member being so formed as tohold said socket member against endwise movement.

'7. A bowling pin comprising a hollow body formed of complementarysections adhesively secured together, each of said sections having asemi-cylindrical recess, an arcuate rib integral with each section andprojecting into a recess, and a cylindrical socket member snuglyengaging in said recesses and having an annular groove to receive saidribs, said ribs holding said socket member against longitudinal movementrelative to said body in opposite directions.

8. A bowling pin comprising a hollow body formed of complementarysections adhesively secured together, and a brous woven reinforcing bandembedded in a wall of each section intermediate the ends thereof.

9. A bowling pin comprising a hollow body formed of complementarysections adhesively secured together, a fibrous woven reinforcing bandembedded in a wall of each section intermediate the ends thereof, and ametallic socket member interposed between said sections atl an endthereof.

. 10. A bowling pin comprising a composition body, a brous wovenreinforcing band embedded in a wall of said body, and a metallic socketand balancing member carried by said body.

of said member being iiush with the adjacent end' of said body.

12. A bowling pin comprising a `hollow body and a' woven fibrous fabricreinforcing member embedded in a wall of said body.

13. A composition bowlingy pin formed of a thermo-plastic compositionand comprising a pair of complementary half sections adapted to beintegrally bonded together, and a fibrous woven band embedded in each ofsaid sections.

14. A composition bowling pin formed of a thermo-plastic composition andcomprising a pair of complementary. half sections adapted to beintegrally bonded together, each of said sections having a half roundrecess adjacent one end thereof, said recesses confronting each other tothereby provide a roundopening at one end of the pin, a concave rib ineach recess intermediate the ends thereof, and a grooved metallic socketmember snugly engaging in said opening, said ribs engaging in the grooveof said socket member. 't

15. The process of constructing a composition bowling pin which includesforming a pair of complementary half sections, embedding a fabricreinforcing member in each of said sections, and bonding the sectionstogether.

16. The process of constructing a composition bowling pin which includesforming a pair of complementary half sections, embedding a fabricreinforcing member in each of said sections, bonding the sectionstogether and interposing a nonwearable socket between said sections atone end thereof.

17. A bowling pin comprising a hollow composition body having a fiatbottom portion of greater thickness than the remaining portion thereof,said bottom portion being formed with an axial opening, and a tubularcombined balancing and outwardly opening socket forming member of amaterial different from the material forming said body, flush at itsouter end with the outer face and extending inwardly from the inner faceof said bottom portion, the wall of said opening being formed with anannular groove, saidv memberbeing formed circumferentially of its outerperiphery with an annular rib, said rib seated in said groove forsecuring said member to said bottom.

18. A bowling pin comprising a hollow compov-sition body having a flatbottom portion of greater terial different from the material formingsaid u 4 alessio ber being formed circumierentially of its outerI Yperiphery with an annular rib, said rib seated in said groove forsecuring said member to said bottom, and a pair oi spaced reticulatedreinforcing bands embedded in the said remaining 10 portion oi saidbody.

19. A bowling pin comprising a molded plastic body having an opening inthe bottom portion thereof, said body' also having an annular ribintermediate the ends of said opening, and a cylindrical socket membersnugly engaging in said opening, said socket member having an annulargroove to snugly receive said rib to thereby hold said socket memberagainst movement lengthwise of said body.

EARLE W. 104

